Chapter 126: There Are Immortals in This World, Riding the Wind and Taming the Waves!

"Are the three great clans—the Fang, the Qin, and the Wang—not supposed to be hidden families? Since when have they started recruiting disciples from the outside world?"

The very word "hidden" implies a life of seclusion, detached from the mundane entanglements of the mortal world. Once they enter the secular realm, how can they still call themselves hidden families?

A five-million-dollar entry fee, followed by a lifetime of service to the family as a low-ranking collateral member. It was a one-sided investment yielding endless profit; those three families certainly knew how to calculate. Jiang Yu let out a cold snort. The greed of these clans was, to say the least, unsightly.

The Qin girl explained, "Ever since the rise of modern weaponry, the times have progressed rapidly. What is the difference between constant seclusion and burying one's head in the sand? Even hidden families must keep pace with the times to understand and integrate into this world. Besides, the people of the hidden families need to eat. Without someone to earn money, how could the families continue to operate?"

"In the past, most people from the hidden families worked as bodyguards for the ultra-wealthy in the Jiangnan water towns; those people were generous. They were nothing like the tycoons in Hong Kong, who were so stingy they would practically drain you dry without giving you a cent."

"Later, as the era changed, we learned to run businesses ourselves. After more than a decade of adapting, my own Qin clan alone owns over a dozen companies and groups in the secular world, generating billions in annual profits."

Jiang Yu nodded; it was hardly surprising.

Unless one reaches the Golden Core stage and achieves inedia, one cannot survive on nothing but wind and dew. Even someone as powerful as Jiang Yu currently required food to sustain himself. Furthermore, the people of these hidden families could not spend all their time on cultivation; they, too, desired leisure and entertainment. Without massive financial support, hidden families would struggle to survive in the modern age.

With the Qin girl's explanation, Jiang Yu understood. "Those people probably have no idea that they are merely going to serve as free menial laborers for those hidden families."

Jiang Yu was not kind enough to warn them. Seeing the yearning in their eyes, he knew that even if he spoke up, few would listen.

After arriving in Qingyang City by bus, the two went to a car rental agency, intending to lease an off-road vehicle to drive straight to the Qin estate. According to the girl, the drive would take at least two days. Since the final decision rested with Jiang Yu, she had no choice but to complain in silence.

The manager greeted them enthusiastically, boasting, "Around here, from private jets down to luxury sports cars, as long as you have the money, we can provide anything. What kind of vehicle would you two like to rent?"

The manager was a smooth operator with years of experience in the service industry; his eyes were sharp enough to see through anyone. A single glance was enough to tell whether a customer had money.

The man was dressed plainly, with an ordinary face and no air of wealth about him—in short, a loser. The woman, however, was exquisitely beautiful and tall; at first glance, one could sense an air of nobility and refinement about her.

The manager eagerly circled toward the Qin girl, introducing various models.

Jiang Yu pointed casually at an off-road vehicle. "That one will do."

He then handed over a bank card. It wasn't a prestigious black card or a VIP platinum card, just an ordinary Agricultural Bank card.

The manager paused, casting a questioning look at the Qin girl.

When Jiang Yu had firmly rejected her request to rent a Ferrari, she was already fuming. Now, she vented her frustration on the manager: "What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear him?"

The manager quickly turned and ran off. A moment later, he returned with a completely different attitude. He held the card with both hands and presented it to Jiang Yu respectfully: "Sir, here is your card."

Jiang Yu had only given him the PIN; as for how much was deducted, he couldn't be bothered to check. In any case, the money on that card could buy every vehicle in every rental agency in Qingyang City.

*Are today's super-wealthy heirs really this low-key?* the manager wondered, trembling.

The sequence of digits he had just seen had genuinely shocked him. He had seen plenty of money in his life, but never a balance so breathtakingly large.

Just as Jiang Yu was about to drive off, two beautiful young women, around eighteen years old, ran over. Their faces were full of anger as they blocked the car, acting quite arrogant and rude.

"You snobbish dog! You left us sisters hanging over there, only to come over here to pick up business!"

The girl who spoke had a delicate nose and rosy lips, with a face pretty enough to be the class beauty in any school. She stood before the manager, her body trembling with rage.

The manager replied indifferently, "You two have been arguing with me all morning over a few thousand dollars. If you think the price is too high, you are free to leave. But you chose to linger in the luxury car section—did you expect me to wait on you hand and foot?" His tone was mocking, showing them no respect at all.

The girl put her hands on her hips. "No way. You have to give me an explanation today, or I guarantee you'll regret it."

The manager sighed and pointed at Jiang Yu's off-road vehicle. "You could also ask the guests in this car if they are willing to let you hitch a ride. Or you could go to the bus station; a twenty-eight-dollar ticket will take you anywhere."

The girl hesitated for a moment before walking to the car window, her tone stiff. "I'll give you three thousand dollars if you drop my sister and me off at White Sheep Town."

Jiang Yu frowned, uninterested. Just as he was about to roll up the window, the other girl walked over with a smile. "Big brother, could you give us a lift? We'll pay—just to White Sheep Town is fine."

Before Jiang Yu could refuse, the Qin girl nodded in agreement. "Get in. We happen to be going to White Sheep Town, too. You're in luck."

Spending every day with the unromantic Jiang Yu, who sometimes said fewer than three sentences in a whole day, was driving her crazy. She would take any company she could get.

Jiang Yu said calmly, "You drive."

The Qin girl stared at him, wide-eyed. "Why don't you drive?"

After a long pause, Jiang Yu replied softly, "My body is too precious to be moved." This enraged the Qin girl so much she nearly ground her teeth to dust.

The four of them set off. Jiang Yu sat in the passenger seat with his eyes closed to rest, while the two girls chatted incessantly. Through their conversation, he learned they were sisters: the elder was Lu Zhuyin, and the younger was Lu Zhuyu—their names, "Sound" and "Language," were as poetic as they were beautiful.

They had snuck out from home with only four thousand dollars, one thousand of which had already been spent on the road. Now, they had less than three thousand left. When asked about White Sheep Town, the two became guarded and stopped answering.

Jiang Yu occasionally interjected, "If you're short on cash, why try to rent a luxury car instead of buying two bus tickets to White Sheep Town? It would only cost fifty-six dollars in total."

Lu Zhuyu retorted indignantly, "That's none of your business. We'll pay you when we get there."

The older sister offered an apologetic smile. "Brother Jiang, please don't take it to heart. My sister has been spoiled by our parents since she was young; she has this attitude toward everyone. Regardless, we still want to thank you."

"There are too many bad people in society, and my sister and I have no experience. We heard that the bus station is full of unsavory characters, so after discussing it, we decided to rent a car ourselves—it felt safer."

Lu Zhuyin spoke with poise and humor, showing none of the airs of a wealthy child. Even the Qin girl couldn't help but engage in a deep conversation with her. Lu Zhuyin was well-read and insightful, able to contribute to any topic.

When the subject turned to the martial world, not only did Lu Zhuyin's interest intensify, but her younger sister, Lu Zhuyu, also pricked up her ears to listen intently. The Qin girl, being a secular martial artist herself, possessed experience, insights, and knowledge far beyond the two sisters.

"Is it true that there is a hidden family deep in the mountains of White Sheep Town, where immortals live who possess magic, can ride the clouds, and move mountains and drain rivers?" Lu Zhuyin's breath quickened, her small hands clenched in nervousness.

The Qin girl said proudly, "That is true. Although it's not quite as exaggerated as that, they can indeed ride the wind and waves, and kill with a flick of their fingers. As long as you don't bring out weapons of mass destruction, no one in this world can harm them."

"Wow, so the legends are true!" Lu Zhuyu shouted, her eyes filled with adoration.

Being young and naive, they were easily led into revealing their secrets. It turned out they had snuck away from home specifically to apprentice at the Qin estate. Having grown up hearing such stories, they had developed a deep reverence for the martial path.

With the end of the year approaching, the three great clans had opened their gates to recruit disciples, and the sisters, unable to contain their excitement, had impulsively run away.

Jiang Yu said indifferently, "I advise you two to just go back once you reach White Sheep Town. The Qin clan you're looking for will soon become a thing of the past."

The younger sister, Lu Zhuyu, pulled a long face. "What do you know? You have no idea what those immortals are capable of. When I was little, I saw one of our family's bodyguards split a marble coffee table with his bare palm!"

"This time, no matter what, we are going to become disciples of the immortals." She shook her fist at Jiang Yu, revealing her little fangs.